Rhubarb

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We have two rhubarb patches, one fully established and a new growth in Spring 2006 that we didn't plant. It has seeded itself and grown a little apart from our main one.

THese photos were taken in May 2006:

This is the new rhubarb patch

Rhubarb is a perennial plant which grows from year to year. It has large fleshy green leaves and thick red juicy (tasty!) stalks. The stalks get pulled out of the ground and the leaves discarded along with the bottom inch or so of the stem. Our rhubarb was ready to use at the beginning of May. It has many uses. Not many people eat it raw but I find it really delicious eaten just as it is. It makes lovely pies and crumbles and a really tasty ginger and rhubarb jam!

May 26th 2006. Today I 'pulled' 8 lbs of rhubarb and canned rhubarb and ginger jam!!! Delicious!!! It made over 20 small 250g sized jars!

Varieties

There are many varieties of rhubarb. Besides being used for desserts, some are grown for ornaments (Ornamental Rhubarb) while some are used for wrapping cheeses (European Wild Rhubarb)

Size

It grows to about 4 or 5 feet tall.

Leaves

The leaves are poisonous. They can grow to be a foot or more in width.

Where found

North America, Europe, China, Tibet